Knitting machine



Feb. 27, 1951 s. MISHCON ET AL KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1948 SAMUEL MISHCON.

ATTORN EY HARRY AGULNEK. LESTER MISHCONA Feb. 27, 1951 s. MISHCON ET AL 2,543,121

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS SAMUELMISHCON -HARRY AG N LESTERM 0 ATTO RN E Y Feb. 27, 1951 s. MISHCON ET AL. 2,543,121

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 RNVENTORS SAMUEL M ISHCO HARRY AGULNE LESTER M \sHco ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1951 s. MISHCON ET AL 2,543,121

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1948 7 SheetsSheet 4 69 97 1 :00 2| 6% 5 93 L: '14 fi 21 97 2a f 2 g 2 l J: INVENTORS 12 3 n 75 SAMUEL wsncou HARRY AGULNEK LESTER M|SHCON Z Y 14 a7.

BY W

ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1951 s. MISHCON ET AL. 5 7

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 ENVENTORS 5AMUEL msucou HARRY AEULNEK LESTER MlSHCON ATTQRNEY Feb. 27, 1951 S. MISHCON ET AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 T 14; INVENTORS SAMUEL MISHCON HARRY AGULNEK BY LESTER 'MI5HCON ATTORNEY Feb, 27, 1951 s. MISHCON ET AL.

KNITTING MACHINE '7 SheetsSheet '7 Filed June 26, 1948 INVENTORS MUEL M lSHcoN mzv AGULNEK LESTER MlSHcON EM MC ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1 951 UNIED STATES TENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Application June 26, 1948, Serial No. 35,376

19 Claims. 3

This invention relates to striping apparatus for knitting machines-and in its broader aspect, to an internal camming mechanism disposed on a rotatable machine member and movable radially on said member through the action of a separate and remote control.

The application of our invention for producing various colored stripes on knitted material is intended, in accordance with one of our objectives, to eliminate in circular knitting machines the conventional rotating yarn stand, whereby the rotating member will be the cylinder with a revolving take-up, and the machine provided with a multiple arrangement of stationary striping boxes actuated in a novel manner, as will hereinafter appear. Our invention eliminates the known disadvantages inherent in rotating yarn stands, the relatively high peripheral speeds of which produce uneven feeding, particularly due to the air friction effects upon certain new types of fine yarns now commonly used.

It is within the contemplation of our invention, with respect to the last-mentioned aspect thereof, to employ a plurality of four-finger striping boxes, and to provide means whereby they are actuated by a silent and relatively slow-moving cam which is entirely concealed from view. And in the furtherance of this object, it is also within our contemplation to enable colors to be s lectively knitted by a, machine arrangement consisting of a minimum of mechanical parts, with a minimum of operative movements to eliminate undesirable centrifugal effects during th rotation of the cylinder.

It is a further object of our invention to enable the color selecting mechanism to be employed without interferring with the conventional feeds on the machine.

Another object is to enable the color selection to be readil made by conveniently, located cor.- trol mechanisms disposed at the outer periphery of the machine, without the necessity of making any control adjustments within the interior of the machine.

Among the most important objectives of our invention is the provision of a type of loosely mounted cam actuated through remotely disposed automatic selective controls, Without the employment of linkage or other continuous connections or complicated electrical mechanisms for efiectuating the controlled movement of the cam. In a preferred form of our invention, and in the accomplishment of the said objective, we provide a slidable cam disposed upon the rotary cylinder mounting, and movable radially under the actuation of said control mechanism, such radial motion producing predetermined operative movements of the striping or other fabric design membersthe said slidable cam having one radial path of movement, and not being connected to the machine by fastenings, so that it can readily be removed and replaced.

And it is a further object to provide a relatively simple and readily constructed device capable of performing the functions and having the advantages aforementioned.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description here inafter given.

Referring to the drawings? Figure 1 is a plan View, with fragments broken away for clarity, of a circular knitting machine embodying our invention, the drawing showing a plurality of striping boxes and the automatic striping control mechanism disposed at the outer periphery of the machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the striper control mechanism shown somewhat enlarged, viewed from line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 33 of Fig. 1 and lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional View of Fig. 2 taken sub stantially along line 4-4 thereof.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in section, of the cylinder gear ring and outer housing ring, showing the cylinder ring cam for actuating the chain control mechanism, also shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view, with parts broken away for clarity, showing the main T- cam of our invention in its outer or operative position, and about to be returned by the stationary return pin extending downwardly from the cam retainer ring.

Figure 7 is a view substantially like Fig. 6, but showing the cam in its retracted position, just prior to engaging the movable operative pin, for radial movement towards its outer operative position.

Figure 8 is a View substantially like Fig. 7, showing the cam in its outer operative position, substantially like that shown in Fig. 6, but with the movable operative pin disposed within the channel of the cam.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the T-cam above-mentioned.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 8 taken substantially along line Ill-I 0 thereof.

Figure 11 is a rear or outer perspective View of the knitting machine, showing the striping boxes and actuating mechanism thereof.

Figure 12 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the ratchet mechanism for operating the drum striping feed clearly shown in Fig. 11.

Figure 13 is a front or inner perspective View of the knitting machine, showing the striping boxes and cutting means in operative position.

Figure 14 is a front view, looking outwardly from within the cylinder, of one of the striping boxes, with the gear cover removed and showing the gears in section.

Figure 15 is a section of Fig. 14 taken substantially along line l-l 5, and

Figure 16 is a schematic section taken along a vertical plane through the machine of Fig. 1, showing the relative positions of the striping fingers in their operative and inoperative positions, and the positions of the yarns therefrom with respect to the center post and the knives of the device.

In the particular embodiment of our invention illustrated in the figures, there is shown a circular knitting machine having a stationary outer housing ring 253, a stationary cam retainer ring 2|, and a revolving cylinder and gear ring 22 containing a circular gear 23 driven by a mecha nism not shown, but well known in the art. The revolving cylinder 2 contains circumferentially disposed thereabout a plurality of independent latch needles 25 of conventional construction, as well as a plurality of sinker elements 26 cooperable therewith (Fig' 16), said sinkers not herein otherwise shown, since they are well known in the art, further description not being required for the purpose of this specification.

Circumferentially disposed about the apparatus are a plurality of stationary striping boxes 21, each containing four fingers or yarn carriers 28, 29, 39 and 3|, said fingers being of conventional construction and containing apertures through which extend yarns 32, 33, 3G and 35 from cones disposed on a stationary yarn stand thereabove supported by the posts 35, 37 and 38 (Fig. l)the yarn stand and cones not being herein illustrated inasmuch as it is of conventional construction well known in the art, and since a detailed description thereof is not necessary for the understanding of the present invention. Disposed below each set of striping fingers is a needle latch guard 39 (Figs. and 16) containing a yarn ledge the wall 4| of the guard being engageable with the latch 42 of the needles in conventional manner.

The striping fingers are pivotally mounted and are movable between an upper inoperative position and a lower operative position. In the illustrations, particularly in Figs. 13 and 16, finger is shown in an upper inoperative position, and finger 29 in a lower operative position. When a selected finger is in its lower operative position, the yarn 83 carried thereby is disposed over and rests upon the ledge and is in operative engagement with the needle 25 whereby it is incorporated into fabric 43 in conventional manner (Fig. 16). The yarn 34 from the inoperative or raised finger 30, not being engaged by a needle, is carried around by the rotating cylinder until it ultimately engages the central post 44, and as the cylinder continues to rotate the yarn is wrapped around the said central post until it reaches the knife 45 mounted on bracket 46 attached to central post l lthe level of the portion 34!; of yarn 34 being lower on its return, so that it will intercept the cutting edge of knife as. If the tension in the yarn is insufiicient to produce cutting thereof, the yarn will simply slide over the inclined cutting edge of the blade, and continue to revolve until it wraps itself around in another convolution about post 44, whereupon it will be prevented from slipping about said post and will be relatively taut when it reaches the diametrically opposite knife 51, to be cut thereby. The cutting action here described is a conventional step, and is herein referred to only to aid in the general understanding of the invention.

From the above it is apparent that the movement of the striping fingers from their inoperative to their operative positions will determine when striping yarns are incorporated in the fabric. Since the fingers may carry differently colored yarn, various fabric colors or striping effects can obviously be obtained by selectively actuating one of the striping fingers on each of the striping boxes, or by permitting all of the striping fingers to remain inoperative during a revolution of the cylinder. An essential part of this invention concerns itself with a striping control mechanism capable of actuating a selected striping finger on each of the striping boxes during a revolution of the cylinder.

Each striping box contains a rotating drum 48 disposed within casing 49 (Figs. 14 and 15) and mounted upon shaft 50 upon which is affixed gear 5! in engagement with gear 52 mounted upon shaft 53 upon which is affixed the ratchet wheel Eda. Each drum contains a plurality of holes 541, preferably threaded, into which are inserted plugs 55, the outer terminals of the plugs extending beyond the outer surface of drum 48. The said holes 54 are arranged in four circumferential rows, each disposed under and in line with the rear arm 56 of a striping finger. As will be seen from the drawings, the holes on the adjacent circumferential rows are in horizontal alignment (Fig. 11). In setting these plugs, as will more clearly hereinafter appear, there is only one for each horizontal row, so that only one of the fingers will be actuated at a time for each striping box.

The said shaft 50 extends through the casing 35, one terminal of which has mounted thereover the outer index drum 5'! containing numbers thereon corresponding with each of the horizontal rows on the inner drum, to help in setting the device.

Each of the striping fingers is pivotally mounted at 58 within its striping box, the undersurface 59 of the rear arms 56 being adapted for slidable engagement with the tops of said studs 55. Each finger has associated therewith a spring 60 normally urging the finger upwardly into its inoperative position, in obvious manner. Thus, when the rear arm 56 of a finger not in engagement with a stud 55, it will rest upon the lateral surface of the drum 48, as in the case of finger 30 (Fig. 15), the spring 5 exerting a yieldable pressure thereagainst.

However, when the drum 48 moves in the direction of the arrow A (Fig. 15), an underlying stud a will cause an elevation of the arm 56 of the finger and a consequent depression of the forward part of the finger, whereby the finger is brought into its operative position, as indicated by finger 29.

Adjacent each striping box is a pawl 5! in engagement with the teeth on the cooperating ratchet wheel 5 2a. By the mechanism of our invention, to be further hereinafter described,

each of said pawls is raised in accordance with a selective setting of the control mechanism, causing an operative rotation of the ratchet wheel for each such actuation of the pawl 65. According to our invention, there are as many teeth on the ratchet wheel as there are horizontal rows of holes on the drum 35, so that each operative movement of the pawls e! causes a positioning of a row of holes on the drum :38 below the rear arms 56 of the fingers. The arrangement is hence such that successive actuations of pawls 8! will cause successive movements of horizontal rows of holes into operative positions underlying the said of rear arms at of the fingers. And since there is a plug disposed within one of the holes below one of said arms 55, it is apparent that the corresponding striping finger will be brought into its depressed or operative position, as illustrated. by the finger 29 in Figs. and 16. The manner in which pawls iii are actuated will now be described.

Pawl til, at each striping feed, is pivotally mounted at 62 within the bifurcated support 53, the rod B l being secured, by pin $5, to the lower bifurcated portion of said support 63, said rod extending downwardly and being in slidable engagement with the central aperture 68 of the vertical guide member or guide Bl. An enlarged intermediate portion d8 of rod B l is in slidable engagement with the inner wall as of the enlarged central chamber iii within guide iii-the lower terminal ll of rod as being preferably rounded and engageable either with the flat horizontal floor of the rotating cylinder ring 22, or with the upper cam surface 13 of the cam i l, to be hereinafter described. The two operative positions of the lower terminal "H is indicated by full and dot-dash lines in 12. A spring l5, disposed within central chamber is of the guide Bl, normally urges rod fill downwardly, so that its said terminal ii is in yieldable pressing engagement either with said floor E2 or said cam Ed. placement by fasteners lea securing the flange 16 to the cam retainer ring 2i.

The said cam E4 is slidably movable reciprocatingly and radially in the directions of arrows B (Fig. 12). When it is in its innermost or inoperative position (to the right), the said terminal "ll of rod as is in engagement with floor F2, in a manner to be hereinafter described. And when the said cam is is in its outermost operative position (to the left), the said terminal ii is brought to its raised position indicated by full lines in Fig. l2-the said upward movement being against the action of spring '55 and producing a corresponding upward movement of pawl 6i, and a corresponding clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel Eda. When the said cam i l is again retracted (to the right), the spring '55 will urge the rod 5 downwardly, bringing the terminal 'li into engagement with the cylinder ring floor 52, and also bringing member 63 and 6'! into abutting engagem nt, as clearly shown in Fig. 11. The spring ll, disposed within a recess in support 63, is in engagement with the bottom extremity E8 of pawl 6i at a point rearwardly of pivot ESL-thereby permitting a slidable retraction of the pawl 65 when its operative tip is caused to slide down along the underlying tooth, upon an operative lowering of rod 6 3.

It is thus apparent that each drum actuator, embodied in pawl i 1, rod 6:!- and associated parts, is operated only when the cam M has been moved to its outer or operative position (to the left).

The guide member ill is held against disiii When earn it remains in its retracted position (to the right), the drum :53 remains stationary, and no change whatsoever takes place in the striping action of the striping feed.

The above mentioned cam is is one of the main elements of our invention, its construction being clearly disclosed in Fig. 9. This device is substantially T-shaped in appearance, and contains a pawl-actuating cam surface "53 disposed at the top of the narrow arcuate cam strip 69, the upper cam surface along strip l9 containing a thin leading edge 353 gradually increasing in thickness to uppermost portion 82, and thereafter being gradually reduced in thickness to the rear or trailing edge 82. The vertical distance between the lowermost surface 83 of strip l9 and the uppermost surface i i thereof represents the total eilective operative rise of the cam-which is equivalent to the'total operative rise of pawl 5i. The outer surface 8% of strip is convexly curved in the shape of an arc to fit the arcuate contour of the inner wall 85 of the rotating gear ring 22 (Figs. 6 and 8). The cam is further contains integral therewith the substantially radially ex" tending block :36 disposed intermediate the leading and trailing edges 89 and 82 and joining the inner portion SE of the strip l5. Said block portion 86 is proportioned to slidably fit within the "ecessed portion 38 of the rotating cylinder ring said'recessed portion 88 being radially disposed so as to permit a radial slidable movement of the cam as will more clearly hereinafter appear. The said block contains on its up per surface a substantially v-shaped recess 89 having oppositely disposed vertical cam walls 9G and Eli. The said cam walls converge inwardly from their respective leading edges $2 and 93 towards a notched opening The entire cam 74 is placed upon the rotatable cylinder ring 22 so that the extension block 85 is, as aforesaid, disposed within the said recess $3, the elongated arcuate strip portion being disposed outwardly therefrom. In the position of the cam l shown in Fig. 6, it is in its outer operative position. As the cylinder ring 22 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the vertical cam wall ill will encounter the downwardly extending sta tionary retracting pin es, said pin being affixed to the plate 2!. Since the said earn it moves with the ring 22, the pin 95, when coming into engagement with cam surface ti, will cause the en tire cam id to move to the right radially until it reaches its inoperative position shown in Fig. '7. It should be noted, by referring to Fig. '7 that the pin 55 is shown immediately beh nd the notch G l, the said notch portion being of a width sufficient to clear the pin upon the circumferential movement of cam 2:2 with the cylinder.

It will be noted, in Fig. 7, that there is another pin 96 (see also Fig. 10), which is in the path of outer vertical cam surface 99. The arrangement is hence such that when the said pin 1% is in such obstructing position, it will engage surface Sit and slidably actuate the cam id radially outwardly until the cam is in the operative position shown in Fig. 8 (also in Figs. 6 and 12). When cam M reaches its said operative position, the said actuating pin 96 is disposed within said opening 9 t, being disengaged from block 85 as the rotary motion continues, so that the cam it is permitted to continue along its path without obstruction.

The said actuating pin 96 is movable from its lowered operative position, shown in full lines in Fig. 10, to a raised inoperative position, shown by dot-dash lines, whereby the lower terminal of the \terminerl stroke of pawl I29.

pin is retracted to a position where it is out of engagement with cam wall 90that is, in a position where it is above the upper surface of block 86. The operative movements of pin 96 are controlled by a mechanism to be now described.

A bracket 9? contains two oppositely disposed arms from which depend the said pin 96 and the guide pin 98 slidably movable within aperture 93 of plate 2!, pin 96 being slidably movable within aperture I30 of plate 2I. I'he said bracket 9'! is pivotally articulated with the lever arm liJI (Figs. 1, 4, 7 and 10), the pivotal connection being the pin IE2. The opposite end of arm Iiil contains the hollow boss I33, which is keyed on to one terminal of shaft Ill l, the opposite terminal carrying the arm I05. Mounted over shaft [(14 is the helical spring I06 normally maintaining the lever ml in its raised position, whereby the said actuating pin 88 is normally disposed in its inoperative position. In abutment with arm I05 is the stud. I01 (Figs. 4 and 6), said stud being carried by the bracket I08 affixed to the inner terminal I69 of the plunger I I6 which is slidably mounted within the support II Ithe forward tip II2 of the plunger protruding from said support III. The said stud It! is adjustably positioned within bracket I93, in accordance with a predetermined setting.

Rotatably mounted adjacent the tip II2 of the plunger HE is the timing chain H3, said chain being mounted upon the sprocket Wheel I It keyed to shaft I I5, said shaft being supported by bearing IIS (Fig. 2), the outer terminal of the shaft having affixed thereto the hand wheel I IT. The chain I I3 contains two types of links, the low links H8 and the high links H9. The arrangement is hence such that upon an operative rotation of chain H3, only the high links H9, upon engagement with the tip I I2 of plunger IIB, will cause the plunger to move inwardly. Such inward movement of the plunger will carry the bracket I38 inwardly, thereby bringing the stud IE3! into abutting engagement with the arm H35. This actuates the shaft I 64 against the action of spring I06, whereupon the arm IEII will be depressed, and the actuating pin 96 brought into its operative position.

The said chain I I3 is rotatably actuated intermittently through a distance of one link for each revolution of the cylinder. by the reciprocating action of the pawl I23 the tip of which is engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel Ilia, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The said pawl is pivotally carried by the outer bifurcated terminal I2I of the follower arm I22, the pin I23 serving as the pivotal connection. The inner terminal arm I22 contains the follower roller I24 which is in rolling engagement with the lateral cam surface I25 of the rotating cylinder ring 22. The said cam surface I25 is formed by recessing said ring 22 inwardly, the depth of such recess being equal to the prede- In abutting engagement with the extension of pin I23 is the spring I25 contained within the recessed portion of bracket I25 mounted upon the outer housing ring 20.

It is thus apparent that in order to set the apparatus above described to obtain striping effects on the fabric being knitted, the plugs 55 on the striping box drum 48 must be inserted in such holes as to actuate selected fingers carrying the colored yarn. When this has been accomplished, for each striping box, the sequence of finger actuation of each striping box will have This is accomplished been set--sc that predetermined color or striping effects can be obtained every time a finger is actuated. This actuation occurs every time that the cam I4 is in its outer or operative position. To move said cam I4 into its operative position, a timing chain I I3 with a predetermined arrangement of high and low links is selected, whereby only at certain times will the plunger H3 be actuated to depress the actuating pin 98 and cause an outward movement of cam I4, for producing successive operative liftings of pawls 5i as the cam 74 passes each striping box feed.

It will be observed that the two actions of moving the cam I l into its inoperative position and then into an operative position occur at close intervals, since the pins and 96 are closely spaced along the circumference of the machine, the circumferential distance between the two pins being less than that between two adjacent striping boxes. The arrangement is such as not to interfere with any striping or knitting action of the machine whatsoever.

it will further be noted that the entire operative movement of the cam 74 relative to the cylinder ring 22 is reciprocating and radial, and that such movement is along a relatively short path. The operation is thus obviously simple, and has been found to be conveniently quiet. Cam I I is entirely concealed, and is a completely independent unit, not fastened to any member of the apparatus, and can readily be removed from the cylinder ring when the cover 2I is removed. Despite the fact that there are no links or fasteners connecting the com I with the selective control mechanisms, it is nevertheless apparent that selective striping operations can be readily effectuated. The s,tting of the apparatus can be done at th striping boa: drums and at the timing link-chain control, without any need to make adjustments or settings within interior portions of the machine, and without the necessity of connecting or disconnecting the said cam Id.

The arrangement is also such that there is no interference whatsoever with the other knitting elements of the machine, such as the pattern wheels I27.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, a revolving cylinder ring carrying a needle cylinder, a plurality of stationary striping boxes circumferentially disposed about the machine, each striping box having a plurality of yarn carrying fingers movable between predetermined operative and inoperative positions and a rotatable drum for selectively operating said fingers, a movable actuator operatively connected to each drum for rotatably actuating it, a cam slidably mounted on said cylinder ring and movable relatively thereto between a retracted and an operative position, said cam when in its operative position being adapted to successively engage said actuators and operatively move them as the cylinder ring revolves, whereby the said striping box drums will be successively rotatably actuated.

2. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 1, further provided with a ratchet wheel operatively connected to each of said drums, the said actuators each including a pawl and a substantially vertically disposed rod yieldably urged towards said cylinder ring.

3. In a circular knitting machine for the pro duction of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 2, the bottom terminals of each of said actuator rods being in slidable engagement with the floor of the cylinder ring when the said cam is in its said retracted position.

4. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 3, the said cam having an upper surface with which said rod terminals are in slidable engagement when the cam is in its said operative position, the rise of the cam being equal to the predetermined operative movement of the said actuator.

5. In a circuar knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 4, the said cam having an elongated strip containing said upper cam surface,

said strip having relatively thin leading and trailing edges with rising cam surfaces oonverging therefrom to a hi h-level surface constituting the highest level of the cam.

6. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 1, said cam being movable radially, relative to the cylinder ring, between inner and outer limiting positions.

'7. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 6, said inner limiting position being the retracted position of the cam, and said outer limiting position being the operative drum-actuating position of the cam.

8. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics. the combination according to claim 1, the cylinder ring being provided with a recessed portion for slidably accommodating the cam.

9. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 8, said recessed portion having substantially radial walls, to limit the operative sliding movement of the cam to a substantiall radial path.

10. In a. circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 1, the said cam being substantially T-shaped and comprising an elongated strip with an upper cam surface for engaging said actuators and a block extending substantially radially therefrom, the said cylinder ring being provided with a substantially T-shaped recessed portion for slidably accommodat ng the cam.

11. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 1, said cam having two o positely disposed, vertical. converging cam walls, further provided with two pins adapted for engagement with said converging walls, one to slidably move the cam to its said retracted position and the other to slidably move it to its said operative position.

12. In circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim ll, the said vertical cam walls converging from their leading to their trailing edges, said trailing edges being separated to form a notched opening, said opening being proportioned to clear said pins.

13. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 12, the said cam retracting pin being disposed radially inwardly relative to the other pin and being in the path of the notched opening when the cam is in its fully retracted position, the other pin being in the path of the notched opening when the cam is in its operative position.

14. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped'fabrics, the combination according to claim 1, said cam having two oppositely disposed, vertical, converging cam walls, further provided with two pins adapted for engagement with said converging walls, one to slidably move the cam to its said retracted position and the other to slidably move it to its said operative position, the cam retracting pin being disposed in advance of the other pin, whereby the retracting pin will operatively engage the cam before it is engaged by the other pin.

15. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 14, the circumferential distance between the two pins being less than that between two successive strining boxes.

16. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, the combination according to claim 1, said cam having two oppositely disposed, vertical, converging cam walls, further provided with a fixed pin and a retractable pin adapted for successive engagement with said converging walls, the fixed pin to slidably move the cam to its said retracted position and the retractable pin to slidably move it to its said operative position.

17. In a circular knitting machine for the production of striped fabrics, a stationary outer housing ring, a revolving cylinder ring carrying a needle cylinder, a plurality Of stationary striping boxes circumferentially disposed about the machine, each striping box having a plurality of yarn carrying fingers movable between predetermined operative and inoperative positions and a rotatable drum for selectively operating said fingers, a movable actuator operatively connected to each drum for rotatably actuating it. a cam slidably mounted on said cylinde ring and movable relatively thereto between a retracted and an operative position, sa d cam when in its operative position being adapted to successively engage said actuators and operatively move them as the cylinder ring revolves, whereby the said striping box drums will be successively rotatably actuated, said cam having two oppositely disposed, vertical, converging cam walls, a fixed pin and a retractable pin adapted for successive engagement with said converging walls, the fixed pin to slidably move the cam to its said retracted position and the retractable pin to slidably move it to its said operative position, a timing chain rotatably mounted on the said stationary housing and operatively connected to the said retractable pin, a ratchet wheel connected to the timing chain, a pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel, a follower operatively associated with the pawl, and a cam surface on the lateral wall of the cylinder ring with which said follower is in yieldable engagement, whereby an operative movement of the follower will cause an operative actuation of the retractable pin.

18. A camming mechanism comprising a revolvable member, a substantially fiat horizontal 11 floor revolvable with the member, a cam slidably mounted on said floor and movable relative thereto between two limiting positions, said positions being at difierent distances from the center of rotation measured along a horizontal plane, an element adapted to be actuated by said cam and operatively engaged thereby when the cam is in one of said limiting positions, and a cam control intermittently engageable with the cam fo operatively moving it between said limiting positions, said cam control being operatively associated with the said revolvable member, said cam being out Of engagement with said cam control except when operatively actuated thereby.

19. A camming mechanism according to claim 18, the sliclable movement of the cam being in a generally radial direction transverse to the direction of rotation of the revolvable member.

SAMUEL MISHCON. HARRY AGULNEK. LESTER MISHCON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 258,593 Osborne May 30, 1882 805,670 Rowe Nov. 28, 1905 1,181,520 Glenn May 2, 1916 1,280,912 Waterman Oct. 8, 1918 1,524,759 Sullivan Feb. 3, 1925 1,814,757 Lucas July 14, 1931 2,002,417 Simpson May 21, 1935 

